JW Marriott Essex House New York

Great place to have meetings. I come here for biweekly meetings for a gala committee I sit on. Easily accessible by car, train and foot and can’t beat the fact that it faces Central Park!

Stayed here for three nights this week. Wonderful location, courteous and professional staff, they truly go above and beyond. Omar Wahmane at the exec lounge is truly an example of what Marriott, or any other employee, should aspire to be.
My room was noisy a bit– faced an alley whose garbage trucks load at midnight, but hey, that’s NYC… Room service food was good, healthier options would be a bigger bonus:-)
I look forward to the next visit

As a top tier Marriot Rewards member:
Perhaps the most unwelcoming reception and check in process of any hotel in the world.
These rooms and bathrooms are screaming for a renovation. When booking accept in advance you are staying there for the location only! You will be paying $ 500 to $ 700 a night for beat up furniture, dirty rugs and stained old bathrooms (Suite 3405).
In 35 years of travel I had never been mistreated and thrown the phone on my face as Concierge David Rahner did on 12÷22÷15, and Concierge David Rahner’s boss? Only covering for him so upper management would not be aware of his unacceptable conduct. Wrote appropriate e. mail to General Manager, and to date not even a whisper of an apology.
There are plenty of competitive, modern up to date options in the area that understand the value of their customers.
Because it’s the «Essex House» don’t expect anythin but an run donw hotel managed and operated by mediocre and uneducated personell.

We asked for a bowl and spoon to be sent to the room and they charged us for it. It’s not about the money but the service for their guests. It’s cheap and disgusting.

Update: So this is the Essex House Hotel’s response to my experience and post. I would like to state that they had two and a half days in which to do this in person while I was at the hotel especially since I involved the VIP Assistant Manager when I originally reported the issue. The anemic attempt at customer service by offering what amounts to twenty percent of a single night has left me even more disappointed in what should be a professional operation. I would rather have received nothing but an hollow apology then the «bonus» points awarded to my account. Their response as follows:
«Good Evening Mr. M…,
I received your feedback via your facebook rating and wanting to reach out to you to sincerely apologize for not providing you a memorable stay at our hotel. The status of the rooms you were placed in from the couch to the wallpaper, and the service you described is definitely not norm at the Essex House. I have since shared your feedback with the appropriate teams to ensure this does not happen to you, or any of our guests moving forward.
For the inconvenience I have put 10,000 Marriott Rewards bonus points in your account. If you do choose to stay with us again please do keep my contact information below and let me know when you book. I would love to take care of you during your next stay and show you the true JW service and „VIP perks“ you deserve.
Thank you,
SENIOR GUEST RELATIONS & VIP MANAGER»
For my first trip to Manhattan I wanted to treat myself so I chose to stay the famous Essex house hotel. I am a Marriott rewards elite member and have stayed in a lot of Marriott hotels over the years. I booked three nights in a high floor Manhattan view room which ran well over $ 700 a night. For that price you expect a high standard of quality and service. I was incredibly disappointed by the state of the room I was put in. The white couch in my room was covered in stains which made me wonder what I was sitting in every time I sat on the couch. The refrigerator door latch was completely broken off. The coffee table wood was covered in stains making it look like they picked it up off the side of the road. There was a large disgusting yellow runny stain on the bathroom wall that was easily removed with a wet tissue indicating it wasn’t a permanent stain. A very noticeable area of wallpaper in the bathroom was peeling off the wall.
Either this five star luxury hotel is run on a razor thin budget or the employees and management don’t care enough to spot and correct such easily fixable issues. When I complained the following morning I spent over an hour of my time as I went through one level of lower management to another until I finally got someone who could actually make a decision for themselves without have to go back down the elevator to ask for permission to do something further wasting more of my time. It was a comical circus of ineptitude which wasn’t surprising given the state of the room. As I waited for one level of management or another to arrive the cleaning lady was of course in the room cleaning all the issues I had pointed out. I was also told that the couch had been cleaned and the numerous stains couldn’t be removed. As I told management I don’t know it was cleaned and given the state of the rest of the room I could only assume it wasn’t. I then asked management how much more money did I need to spend before I got a room that wasn’t a shabby improperly cleaned mess.
As a concession I was placed into another room two floors higher on the 39^th floor. This room was a large apartment suit which was far more than I needed or could make use of and most certainly didn’t lessen my disappointment. Funny thing to note that even in this new room the micro-​washing machines door handle was broken off making the unit completely unusable. The new room also didn’t have a bath mat the first night and the correct amount of toiletries. All those magically appeared the second day after the maid had come through. This is after hotel management went through the room ensuring it met the supposed high quality standards of the Marriott Essex House prior to giving it to me. This has been the most disappointed experience I have ever had in a hotel let alone a Marriott property. I will never stay here again.
Getting past the state of the hotel the location is great. Access to Central Park, time square, radio city music hall and numerous high end restaurants all within an easy walk. Or if you choose there is access to multiple subway lines within three blocks

Spent a long weekend there in early December and had a fantastic stay! Hotel is beautiful, service on point, very friendly staff. Our room was VERY large by NYC standards (I think it was a junior suite) only downside was no view at all:(. You can’t ask for a better location– across the street from Central Park, a few blocks from awesome shopping. A few blocks from Rockefeller Center and a few blocks from Times Square! Close to tons of good bars and restaurants as well. We had drinks in the hotel bar every night and the bartender immediately made an effort to know us and greet us by name every evening– what a great touch. Twice we split a burger and truffle fries in the bar and it was to die for! I took a late night carriage ride through the park one night and had some confusion about the payment and front desk took care of it ASAP. We will be back!

It is a nice hotel with great views! The concierge was very accommodating. We had to call the bell man after 25 minutes of not arriving to get our bags. They asked what time we wanted the sofa bed pulled out and when we got back from dinner it wasn’t done. They came promptly to do it. No coffee machine in the room is definitely a downfall for me! Great location and friendly staff!

Really enjoyed our stay here. Perfect place if you have children or a pup as its so close to the park. Also great for a trip for couples as its in a beautiful area. Hotel is classy, bathrooms were big for NYC hotels and beds are comfortable. Hotel staff is very friendly. The southgate restaurant/​bar attached is great too for drinks and food.

If you’re trying to impress someone with a view, I would either ask to make sure you understand what view you’re getting or stay at another hotel to avoid the disappointment.
This hotel for what they charge is like any other Marriott in Nyc. An advertised Central Park view is actually a view from above of 3% of the park from the 37^th floor or a view of 5 trees from the 5^th floor. When I got to my room and saw 60% of my view was a building, it was one of the top 5 most disappointing experiences at a hotel because the Central Park view was what I was looking forward to the most.
The hotel room itself is a little nicer than standard marriotts in the city. Old lighting and the shower is average.

I stayed for the NYC Marathon on points. I spent thousands of dollars to get the points to stay here, but I was clearly treated as a party that had never spent a dime at a Marriott.
1. We were clearly given the worst room possible — 1519. I don’t expect a view of Central Park especially given that it’s a points room, but I also don’t expect the worst room in the hotel. The view was of a giant air conditioning unit, which made noise all day and night long. Nice when you have to try to sleep to get up at 4:30am to run the marathon.
2. No coffee makers in the rooms (or at least not in mine). I actually found the first Marriott I’ve ever been to (I’ve probably stayed at 70 Marriott properties over the years) without a coffee maker. Again, nice when you have to get up at 4:30am.
3. No ice machines anywhere. (Seriously?).
4. Air conditioning/​Heating did not work. Despite the giant unit humming constantly outside the window, the unit in our did nothing at all. Of course to rectify this we had to open the windows, thus enhancing the sound of the massive appliance 2 feet outside the window (the irony).
5. No late check out available. What is the point of being Marriott Gold if you can’t have an extra hour to check out and get the worst room in the hotel? The person I spoke to on the phone didn’t even let me finish my sentence before informing me if I wasn’t out by 12:00 I’d be charged a night.
On the positive side, the location is great, although I’m sure you already knew that… and let’s face it, that’s probably the explanation for 1 – 5.
Room service attended was irritated because no additional tip was provided (additional to all of the service charges added on to the bill already.) I paid $ 40 for a turkey club and the guy that brought it expected an additional tip?
Front desk staff stated there were no maps available. Never heard of a hotel with no maps available.
Since there are no ice machines available, I had to call the concierge for ice. This was clearly not appreciated, as the person hung up on me in the middle of my sentence. (I was explaining that I’d like a little more ice given that it wasn’t for a drink, it was for my legs).
On the positive side, the room keeping staff was great and efficient.

Terrific hotel in a great part of town. Very good deal is using points, which is what I did. Rooms are nicely appointed and in great shape. Plenty of space with lots of cool electronics. Nice to get apps on the TV. Hard to find a better hotel.

Beautiful Central Park hotel. Grand entry way, Nice Resteraunt, spacious rooms w 24 hour room service. Paid Wifi. Valet parking. No in room movies but have Netflix. Average bed comfort. Helpful staff but long lines to check in. Extremely expensive.

Had a «staycation» here, with the hubby. Beautiful hotel with gorgeous views over Central Park. Staff was friendly, since I’m from NYC I didn’t need much help but anything we did need or requested to the room was brought up promptly. I believe parking is $ 80 per night, but we found a lot for $ 17 (in hindsight we should have just taken the subway). Marriott hotels always have plush pillows and comfy bedding. This is an ideal location for visitors, walking distance from Times Square. I’d recommend to visitors who have a pretty penny to spend, but try to skip room service.

What a great experience.
Stayed for one night as a get away. It was absolutely beautiful, a once in a lifetime night over looking central park.
Everything was clean and spotless. Very comfortable bed.
Yes be prepared to spend spend spend, but for that luxurious night out once every never it is truly worth it.

I spent 3 days this week at the essex house for a business meeting.
I was very impressed
The hotel was spotless, the service was exceptional and the conference rooms were perfect.
The room was larger than your usual manhattan hotel. The room was nicely appointed, king size bed, beautiful linens, modern bathroom and a large led television.
The food at the hotel was good, the meats were all cooked perfectly. The bar was awesome albeit pricey
Cocktails averaged $ 15 a clip
Great scene, spectacular fireplace and a ridiculous wine selection
What impressed me most was the service, every person I encountered was proud to work there. They take pride and it does not go unnoticed.
The hotel is across the street from central park by Columbus circle, excellent location for business or tourists.

We stayed on one of the top floors of this iconic art deco NY hotel during the holiday season, and enjoyed a fabulous view of Central Park. The staff is attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere is upscale with classic style, without being stuffy. The room was very pleasant, nicely maintained (as is the entire hotel from what I could see) and well-​appointed, but not very large. Most hotel rooms in any desirable area in Manhattan run on the smaller side, unless you get a suite, so it was exactly what we expected. We especially appreciated the very comfortable bed and Netflix in-​room access, where we could use our Netflix account to view a movie without a fee. The internet access was not complimentary, which was a bit surprising.
You can’t beat the location, and the adjoining restaurant (The Southgate Bar and Restaurant) was great for an early even cocktail and a light lunch. We didn’t eat dinner there so I can’t comment on the entrees. The lunch and appetizers we had were good, although the portions were not lavish. Of course, you’re not going to get a deal at a hotel restaurant, let alone one across from Central Park in NYC, so warm up your Amex. This is not a place for cheapskates.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the JW Marriot Essex House to friends, colleagues, and family. It’s a bit pricey, but not more than you would expect for a hotel of this caliber in this location.

I am a huge fan of the Essex House in NY.
Location: Across the street from central park. Loved how easy it was to go take a run in the park! The only bad thing is that since it is across the street from central park, there are a lot of horses. So on a hot day, you walk out of the hotel and smell horse droppings… Pretty close to the subway.
Hotel: Best concierge lounge! Beautiful. Good food. Best I have had at a Marriott property so far. Great service with a fresh flowers daily (nice touch). Rooms are pretty large. Keep in mind that this is an older property that has gone through a facelift. Nothing too fancy in the room but still nice. Comfy bed. Clean.
Bar: Great bar downstairs called South Gate. Great cocktails. Very pretty.
Overall: Great hotel. My favorite in NYC so far.

Rooms are a little underwhelming for the price being charged. Beautiful restaurant, lobby, etc however stains on carpet in room, found trash in room when checked in and the mattress was actually on an angle. Added some pictures to show.
Quick recovery by the staff moved them up in my book. Excellent service and fast. The JW I know.

Five stars for allowing my sister and brother in-​law to host their big and special wedding day at this beautiful and elegant hotel across from Central Park!
Five stars for providing great hospitality and support to my sister and brother in-​law, and our family and friends!
My family and I arrived at the Essex House Friday night for a wedding rehearsal and to stay over night. We stayed in a Suite that was spacious and roomy. It had just about everything we needed and even provided an extra twin bed for us since it was the five of us in a suite.
The ceremony and reception were absolutely stunning and beautiful! The ceremony and reception both took place at the Grand Salon. The Grand Salon had a very rustic, old-​style décor to it with a dash of classiness. Everything was organized and arranged nicely and neatly. The food was absolutely delicious! Someone ordered me a Filet Mignon which I have been dying to try forever and man, oh man was it good! Real good! The wedding cake was a red velvet cake and it was tasty, but too bad I didn’t have much appetite for it since I was on antibiotics that day. What a bummer!
Words can’t express how happy my family and I were for this day and that my sister & brother in-​law did an excellent job at choosing such a gorgeous hotel in NYC to celebrate their special day! Everything was breathtakingly beautiful!

***While this JW Marriott is very expensive, it is also a luxurious hotel with some rooms featuring great Central Park views***
Because of the many movies that were shot in NY’s Plaza hotel, rooms with a view of Central Park have always indicated a luxurious experience to me. The Plaza though is just one of the hotels that sits right on Central Park. Marriott recently transformed the Essex House into a JW Marriott property. The Central Park adjacent hotel maintains a lot of the hotel’s historical design, but rooms and amenities are very contemporary and up-​to-​date.
The rooms are nice at this JW Marriott and surprisingly spacious for a Manhattan hotel. The rooms have a contemporary and light colored wood look. The bed was comfortable with nice linen and an attractive headboard as well as overhead lights that produced a sleek and upscale look. Some rooms provide a full or partial view of Central Park and this adds to the luxurious feel. The room was equipped with great touches like a minibar and an in-​room safe.
The bathroom was nice and spacious. There was a great glass shower as well as a separate bathtub. The counter space, floor and sink all had an upscale look.
The luxurious vibe extends to the hallways and lobby. The hallways feature large and impressive chandeliers. Stylish chairs and couches are well placed in the comfortable lobby. Unlike the rooms that are mostly contemporary, the hallways and lobby retain some of Essex House’s historical design and decoration, which provides a classy touch. Despite being in an older building, elevators are quick.
Marriott Rewards Gold and Platinum members receive access to the hotel’s Executive Lounge. The food at the Executive Lounge really varied with some food being below average, quite a few dishes being decent and some dishes being among the best I’ve had at a Marriott brand Concierge Lounge. Breakfast was the most disappointing, which was surprising given that breakfast is often good at even bad Concierge Lounges.
The JW Marriott Executive Lounge featured a lot of variety at breakfast, but what stood out most was the assortment of breakfast pastries. From croissants to Danishes, a lot of the breakfast pastries were flaky, crispy and delicious. The hot offerings were impressive too in terms of variety. Like most Concierge Lounges, this Executive Lounge was featuring scrambled eggs, a breakfast meat (bacon) and oatmeal, but there were also breakfast potatoes and French toast sticks. Unfortunately, the scrambled eggs were not that great, the bacon was too salty, and the French toast sticks were bland.
Nightly appetizers featured some very good beef bourguignon with garlic parsley fettuccine on the side. The beef bourguignon was comprised of tender and juicy beef short rib, nicely cooked root vegetables like carrots and potatoes and a rich but not too heavy sauce. The next night brought chicken chili and rice, which was just okay. Good cheeses, some cured meats and crudité were also available.
Desserts were okay. There were standard Concierge Lounge items like cookies, but there were also chocolate mousse and vanilla panna cotta desserts. In-​between service hours, there was an assortment of packaged salty snacks like potato chips, popcorn and pretzels.
This lounge also had one of the best designs of any Marriott brand Concierge Lounge I’ve been to. The lounge felt like a modern restaurant with its sleek and contemporary metal look. Several impressive televisions (including one made of four large HDTVs) filled the room. The lounge also had many tables.
Service throughout the hotel was great and consistent with Marriott’s high standards. Though I didn’t get the room with the best view, the front desk really did what they could to find the best room available.
Prices are very high as this hotel and can be up to 60% more expensive than some of the other nearby Marriott brand hotels like the Courtyard, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn properties. With that being said, this JW Marriott is a far better hotel with a much nicer location than those properties.
This JW Marriott is an expensive though great option for a luxurious stay in New York. This JW Marriott not only features great views, but it is in a quieter location than the many hotels in and around Times Square. The surprising peace and quiet of this property coupled with the great rooms make this one to definitely consider for those looking to book a Manhattan room with Marriott Rewards points.
I am not sure what the parking situation is.